Handbag frame



E. POETER HANDBAG FRAME Aug. 25, 1936.

Filed March 7, 1936 I filled.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 PATENT oFFicE HANDBAG FRAME;

Edward Poeter, Irvington, N. J., assignor to E.

Poeter &.C0., Inc., Irvi tion of New Jersey 7 Application MarehV, 1

6 Claims.

This invention relatestohandbagframes, and more particularly toaframe which isv so constructed that there will, not be anyfibulge along the, sides of the frame by reason of the bagbeing.

An object: of; thisinvention is to provide a U,- shaped frame construction.- for a handbag the handbagwbeingof arelativelylarge size, which is adapted to provide a relatively'wide mouth to permit ready access to, the inside of the bag.

Another object, of this invention is to provide, in a frame construction animproved hinge or, joint structure which; will make it possible to eliminate theuse of gussets; alongv the sides ,of" the frame, and at thesame time close the opposite side of the frame. I I

A further object of ,this' invention is to provide; in a frame construction ofthis kind an improved frame locking, means which includes means to prevent lateratmovement of the frame members relative to each other and thus eliminate any, strain upon the hinge, particularly when-the handbag-is filled to-,substantial capacity.

With the foregoinguand,otherpbjects in view,- the invention will be more fullydescribed hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out" in theclaims appended hereto. I p

In thedrawing, wherein like symbols'refer-to likeor corresponding parts throughout the several: viewsr a; V

Figure 1- is a detail side elevation of a hand! bag frame-constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. I V v Figure 2 is a top planof thelframe.

Eigure 3 .is a sectional: view, partly in detail, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.- 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig,t3.rn-

Referringtothe drawingthe numeral 10 designates generally one frame member, ,and the; numeral II designates generally a second frame member, each of the frame members being of substantially U-shaped construction.

The frame member ID comprises an upper bar I2 and parallel side bars I3 and I4, and the frame member I I comprises an upper bar I 5 and parallel side bars I6 and I! of substantially the same size as the upper bar and side bars of the frame member ID. The lower ends of the frame member I are bent outwardly on a slight curvature, the side bars l3 and I4 being bent outwardly at their lower ends as at I8 and I9, respectively. The lower ends of the frame member II are likewise bent outwardly on a slight curvature, the side bars I6 and I! being bent ngton, N. J.; a comma- 936, Serial No. 67,617

outwardly at their lower ends as, at 2El=and 2l,.respectively. V

The divergent ends of the frame members I Z? and II are connectedtogether by means of a pair ofhinge bars or connecting links 22 and 23. The ends of theframe member I Dare pivotally secured to the hinge bars 22, and 23 by meansof pivotal-members 24and125, respectively, and the ends of theframemember II are pivotally secured to the hinge bars 22 and 23 by means of pivotal 1 1' members 26 and 21, respectively,

These hinge bars 22 and 23-are of like construction, and each is preferably constructed of a flat and relatively-heavy piece of: metal which is provided -with apair of recesses 28 and 29- which 1 openthrough one face. of the bar, preferably the inner face, and the bottom; of each recess forms a seat, or stop which is engagedby the curved lower end of a frame side bar. The pivotalmembers for thegframe members, as shown 2 inEigs. 2 and 3, aredisposed adjacent the opposite ,ends, of the hinge bars, and the hinge bars are of suflicient length as to provide a relatively large seat or stop. Through the use of these hinge bars or links 22 and 23, one frame member may be moved to open position, with the other frame member in a normal closed position with the curved divergent lower ends thereof contacting with the hinge'bar stops or seats.

The frame members If! and II. are adapted to 30 be engaged by asuitable cover, forming the handbag'proper which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and designated generally at B. The cover will be extended upwardly about the frame members and. secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The frame member I I is provided on the upper bar I 5 thereof with guide members which are. disposedv in upstanding and spaced. apart relation, and. aslidable locking memberriil provided withaa knob or operating member 32slidably m, engages the guide members 30. Movement ,of thelocking member 3I islimited by means of a stop; 33 secured to the undersidethereof and. disposed between the guide members 30. The end of the locking member 3I opposite from the knob 32 is preferably reduced slightly, as at 34 so as to facilitate engagement with an eye 35 which is secured to the upper bar I2 of the frame member Ill.

One of the frame members, and in the present instance the frame member I0, is provided with a projecting pin 36 which is adapted, when the frame members are in closed position, to engage in a recess 31 in the confronting side of the upper bar I5 of the frame member H. This pin 36 will 5 35 zLr.

When the frame members Hi and II are in closed position the side bars thereof will be in substantially contacting relation for the entire length thereof and the locking member 3| will be engaged with the keeper or eye 35. Preferably the locking member 3| is so constructed that it will be placed under some strain or friction when engaged with the eye or keeper 35 so that it will not easily move to released position.

In use the cover of the handbag will be secured to the frame members I!) and H in any suitable manner, and in closed position the frame members ID and II will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The handbag may be partially opened by moving the locking member 3| to released position and then swinging the desired frame member outwardly and away from the other frame member, or the handbag may be completely opened by swinging both of the frame members outwardly, thus exposing the entire contents of the handbag. Through the provision of the recesses or seats 28 and 29 in the hinge bars 22 and 23, when the frame members l0 and I are moved to closed position the hinge bars 22 and 23 will always be disposed at right angles to the side bars of these frame members.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:

I What is claimed is:

1. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, the free ends of the frame members being bent outwardly in opposed relation, a pair of hinge bars, means for pivotally securing the hinge bars to the ends of the frame members and means carried by saidhinge bars for engagement with the outwardly bent portions of the frame members whereby to hold the hinge bars at substantially right angles to the sides of the frame members when the frame members are in closed position.

'2. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, each frame member" having the free ends thereof extended outwardly in opposed relation, a pair of hinge bars, seats carried by the hinge bars for engagement with the extended portions of the frame members to:

hold the hinge bars at substantially right angles to the sides of the frame members when the frame members are in closed position, and pivotal means for pivotally securing the extended ends of the frame members to the hinge bars.

3. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, outwardly extending end portions carried by the parallel sides of the frame members, a pair of hinge bars, pivot means for securing the extended end portions of the frame members to the hinge bars, and means carried by each hinge bar to maintain the hinge bars in substantially right angular relation to the sides of the frame members when in closed position.

4. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, outwardly extending end portions carried by the parallel sides of the frame members, a pair of hinge bars, pivot means for securing the extended end portions of the frame members to the hinge bars, means carried by each hinge bar to maintain the hinge bars in substantially right angular relation to the sides of the frame members when in closed position, means for holding the frame members against lateral movement relative to each other when in closed position, and releasable locking means for locking the frame members in closed position.

5. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, outwardly extending end portions carried by the parallel sides of the frame members, a pair of hinge bars, pivot means for securing the extended end portions of the frame members to the hinge bars, means carried by each hinge bar to maintain the hinge bars in substantially right angular relation to the sides of the frame members when in closed position, a pin carried by one of the frame members and projecting in'the direction of the other frame member, said other frame member having a recess to receive the pin, and releasable locking means for locking the frame members in closed position.

6. A handbag frame comprising a pair of U- shaped frame members, outwardly extending end portions carried by the parallel sides of the frame members, a pair of hinge bars, pivot means for securing the extended end portions of the frame members to the hinge bars, each hinge bar having a recess in a side thereof to receive the extended end of a frame member, the bottom of the recess maintaining the hinge bar in substantially right angular relation to the sides of the frames, one of said frame members having a recess in substantially the center of the bight thereof confronting the other frame member, a pin carried by the other frame member in the bight thereof and adapted to engage in said latter recess to hold the frame members against lateral movement relative to each other, and releasable locking means for locking the frame members in closed position.

EDWARD POETER. 

